Might Buy a K31 Tomorrow

[Ohio Rifleman]

Hi all. I'm planning a trip up to the local gun show tomorrow, and depending on finances and what I find there, I might buy a Swiss K31. I have a couple of questions, though, if I do.

What kind of brush do you use to clean the bore? I've never seen a 7.5 brush. Would a plain ol .30 cleaning brush do the job?

Where's the cheapest place to buy 7.5 ammo online? It looks to me like the imported GP11 ammo is cheaper than Wolf or Norma or Prvi Partisan.

And I think I can figure out the rest, look for matching serial numbers, clean bore, yada yada.

Oh, I also wouldn't mind some tips on decosmo-ing a K31. Do you just wipe off the metal parts with mineral spirits and put some oil on them? If that's the case, I'd probably need directions on field stripping it.

And how do you de-cosmo wood?

Thanks in advance.

 

[dumdum303]

A .30 cal. brush works for me without any problems. While your there, you may see a Swiss cleaning kit. Its for their stg.57, but works for the K31 and is about $9 at the shows here in CA.

The GP11 seems to be about 50 cents a round just about everywhere.

My K31 had no cosmoline thankfully. Just some old grease and oil in the trigger assembly. All the ones I have seen are very clean inside and out. surplusrifle.com it a great help with disassembling the bolt, which is kinda tricky. The rifle itself is a pretty straight forward disassembly.

Hope you find one. Once you see your first grouping, you'll be glad you did.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

The GP11 ammo is worth every penny. Buy a lot.

If you have cosmoline, hopefully you still have some hot, sunny days. Leave the wood out in the sun and wipe it down often.

K31 is a fine rifle. Good luck finding one.

 

[Spiggy]

What kind of brush do you use to clean the bore? I've never seen a 7.5 brush. Would a plain ol .30 cleaning brush do the job?

Yep! in fact, when you start reloading (cheapest solution out there) you just use typical .30cal bullets!

I've seen K31 dedicated cleaning kits (complete with a pullthrough) going for about $18 at the last few SoCal gunshows

Where's the cheapest place to buy 7.5 ammo online? It looks to me like the imported GP11 ammo is cheaper than Wolf or Norma or Prvi Partisan.

this ones subject to change all over, if you get lucky, it's usually about $25-30 for a brick of 60 rounds of GP11s (which shoot the best and it isn't corrosive)

Oh, I also wouldn't mind some tips on decosmo-ing a K31. Do you just wipe off the metal parts with mineral spirits and put some oil on them? If that's the case, I'd probably need directions on field stripping it.

And how do you de-cosmo wood?

wipe out the metal parts, get a small brush and reach into the chamber, they like to leave bits of switzerland in there. be sure to check the cam(the turny thing with the spiral cut) and connector(the wonky lever thing that connects to the turny thing with the spiral cut), if there's a broken bit (VERY unlikely, but it happens) the bolt will ultimately eject into you.

Dont worry about decosmoing the wood, that's almost always unnecessary.

Fieldstripping instructions, you will need:
1. flat head screwdriver
2. a small part receptical like a bowl
3. a rag or something to keep the goo off the floor
4. a beverage of some sort

First thing you want to do is remove the magazine. It's simple, it's a box and a lever.

Next go for the bolt, look at the lever on the right hand side of the receiver and push and hold it down, you may now pull the bolt and remove it from the receiver.

To take down the bolt, you just need to pull the loop on the firing pin, turn it clockwise to the other slot, and it should pretty much fall into pieces... while we're on this step, check the cam and connector

Drink some beverage

Take the screwdriver and remove the screws holding the bands... you should be able to remove the handguard and go "WOW!" because chances are, the insides look fresh out of an arsenal

Drink some beverage

Now you want to remove the screws around the magwell, there should be 3 if I remember off the top of my head. After these guys are gone, you can lift the action and trigger guard out of the stock.

Drink some beverage

And the ending part! this is the most fun for me! get that screwdriver and aim for the buttplate of the stock, remove the top one first, then loosen the lower one, then carefully remove. If a plasticized piece of paper with information is on it, please share with us because that there is a connector between us and history. That tag should reveal information on who was the issued owner of that rifle.

Finish your beverage, clean up before the wife gets home and yells at you for making a mess

HAVE FUN!

 

[cracked butt]

If that's the case, I'd probably need directions on field stripping it.

Amazingly enough, or maybe not coincidentally at all, the flat bladed screwdriver on a swiss army knife fits all 6 screws found on a K-31 perfectly.

 

[tbs]

Everything you'll want to know about the K-31 can be found here!

http://p082.ezboard.com/btheswissriflesdotcommessageboard

 

[DMK]

This might help too (Take note of the maintenance section at the top right):

http://www.surplusrifle.com/swissk31/index.asp

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

Amazingly enough, or maybe not coincidentally at all, the flat bladed screwdriver on a swiss army knife fits all 6 screws found on a K-31 perfectly.

I doubt that's a coincidence.

Well, evidently, I can't go to the gun show today, I'll be going tomorrow, though, on Sunday. Hope I can find a K31 I can afford. Wish me luck!

Oh, and I've been prowling Gunbroker for 7.5 ammo, and found some decent deals. Like a 60 round pack of GP11 for $31.

 

[ldp4570]

K31 is one of the best deals out there. You will look long and hard for a more accurate milsurp rifle!!!! Plus it makes a great Scout rifle!

 

[cracked butt]

Even at $200 or whatever their going rate is, they are a screaming deal.

 

[PotatoJudge]

The K31 will have a yellow grease on it called Waffenmet(sp), not cosmo. It shouldn't need much cleaning at all- just the bore, chamber and bolt. I'd skip the GP11 and buy Prvi, FNM, or Wolf (whatever's cheapest) at $12ish a box. Keep the brass. You'll either reload for it someday or you can sell it.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

Why skip the GP11? I hear it's the most accurate ammo out there for the K31 and likely the cheapest.

And, I hope I can find one for well under $200.

 

[Spiggy]

Privi/Wolf Gold is easiest to reload, which easily makes it a cheaper alternative in the long run as opposed to GP11s

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I do see what you're saying, Spiggy. I don't reload now, but when/if I buy a K31, I will most definitely seriously look into it.

Was thinking about this to get started:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=80256805

 

[wrc]

Definitely get one. You will surprise yourself shooting it. It has excellent practical accuracy. I suspect the trigger is the key to that.

It's a .30, so any cleaning tools for that caliber will work. The Mojo rear sight is excellent if you find yourself straining with the rear leaf sight.

Stock up on the GP11. It is production match-quality ammunition, and cheap for the quality (sealed neck and primer for long-term storage). You can resize .284Win brass and use .308 bullets when reloading. I've had good results with the privi partisan ammunition, which as posters above have mentioned, is the fast track for reloading.

Check under the buttplate for the original issue-ee's name and address!

 

[wrc]

Oh, you'll want to get a bayonet. Some of them, the pioneer in particular, are over-the-top and just plain fun to own.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

Yeah, I'll probably get a bayonet eventually too. But they're going for $90-$100 now!

And yeah, I would love to get one with a troop tag under the buttplate, but that wouldn't be a deal maker/breaker.

 

[cracked butt]

I'd skip the wolf, prvi or whatever altogether and just buy .284 win brass for reloading. Reason being is that if you are going to pay 50-70 cents per round of factory ammo, you might as well get the best with GP-11- the other crap just doesn't compare.

 

[dumdum303]

I saw one at the gun show today with a bayonet for $285. It looked great, nice walnut stock. Also some GP11 for $30 for 60 rounds.

 

[Arkie]

Well here is the price on the GP11. My K31 loves this stuff and it's cheaper than wolf.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/GP11_7.5Swiss_FMJ_Ammunition.html

 

[MechAg94]

I would recommend getting at least a couple bricks of the GP11 ammo to at least see how well it shoots. $30 per 60 round brick is the cheapest I have seen lately.

I have shot some Privi ammo. It wasn't bad, but not quite as tight at the GP-11. The only complaint I have on my K31 is that the group sizes increase as the barrel heats up, at least for me. I have to be patient.

 

[Hoppy590]

sooo did you buy it?! i got my K31 at a gunshow here in MA for 180$ about 6 months ago. let us know how you do!

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

Haven't bought anything yet, Hoppy, as I couldn't get to the gun show today. I WILL be at the gun show tomorrow, however. Depending on what I find there, I might walk out with a K31. If I don't find anything there, I do have a backup plan. FGS Inc. is selling beech stock K31s for $124.50. I just prefer picking up and examining a gun before I buy it.

And I'm seriously thinking about ordering some of that GP11 from AIM, or getting it by the brick at Gubroker, depending on how finances hold out. I might want to take up reloading too... I swear, shooting is such an expensive hobby...

PS Since I know us High Roaders love pics, when I do get a K31, I'll be sure to take some of my usual crappy gun pics for you!

 

[Hoppy590]

haha sorry. i didnt expect you to resond till tommorow. i did read post # 8. dont be scared off by any butt stock damage to a k31 thats normal. if you get a choice. get the best metal you can.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

No prob.

And yeah, that's pretty much the plan. Stock damage doesn't really effect the function of the rifle. And besides, you can always refinish a stock, but if the metal is pitted or really bad, well, then you're SOL. But, from what I hear, just about all these wonderful rifles are in excellent conditions as far as the steel is concerned.

I can't substantiate this, but I heard somewhere that if the K31 was commercially manufactured with the same materials and tolerances, it would run for about $1000. Anything to that?